Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 08/20/1992MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA AUGUST 20, 1992 The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:00 p.m., on August 20, 1992, in the City Council Chambers in the City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Curtis presiding and the following Council Members present: Campbell, Hertz, Hoffman, and Parks. Council Member Brown arrived late and Council Member Wirth was absent. ORDINANCE CHANGING SCHOOL CROSSING SIGNAGE: Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to pass on first reading an ordinance changing the school crossing signs at the Dotson/Lincoln Way, Franklin/Lincoln Way, and 30th/Grand intersections to read "No Right Turns When Children Are Present". Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Moved by Campbell, seconded by Parks, to suspend the rules required for the adoption of an ordinance. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Parks, to pass on second and third readings and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 3190 changing the school crossing signs at the Dotson/Lincoln Way, Franklin/Lincoln Way, and 30th/Grand intersections to read "No Right Turns When Children Are Present". Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. EASEMENTS FOR WATER AND SANITARY SEWER LINES: Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 92-314 approving the acceptance of dedication and easements for water and sanitary sewer lines located at 2800 and 2902 East 13th Street. Council Member Brown arrived at this time. Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. CAMPUSTOWN IMPROVEMENTS WORKSHOP: City Manager Steve Schainker introduced urban design expert Michael Freedman of Freedman, Tung & Bottomley, San Francisco, California. Mr. Schainker stated that Mr. Freedman was in Ames for the purpose of developing design concepts for physical improvements to the Campustown area. Michael Freedman explained to the City Council, members of the Campustown Betterment Association, and other attendees that his intentions are to quickly implement physical improvements in Campustown in order to improve sales and the relationship of the area with the community and the Iowa State University campus. Mr. Freedman reported that his intent is to invoke stronger physical and visual connections to the campus and retail core. Mr. Freedman explained further that he was in Ames at this time in order to do the "field" work, obtain recommendations from the Council, City staff, and citizens, and then spend the next six to seven weeks in his California office developing the design concepts. He stated that he would focus the improvement dollars on streetscaping, parking, accessibility, and visibility. Once he has laid out the ground work, Mr. Freedman will come back before the City Council with his recommendation. At this time, Mr. Freedman gave a slide presentation regarding street improvement possibilities. He showed the slides in order to review what other communities in similar situations have done with renovation projects and to give people an idea of different possibilities. Mr. Freedman indicated that in order to draw people to Campustown and shopping areas like downtown Main Street, each business needs to pull in pedestrians through doors with direct access from the street. He further indicated that windows are a vital key to luring in business. Mr. Freedman informed those in attendance that it is important not to put any greenery or plantings in between the shoppers and the door, because a business has to reach out to the customer on the sidewalk and street. The usage of different facades, awnings, colors, etc., is also very important in attracting business to a shopping area. Mr. Freedman stated that architecture is not the main consideration for making physical improvements to an area, but physical expression is a very strong component. Attracting shoppers to a business district may also be done by the proper placement of trees and the usage of street lights, banners, and street furniture as well as the design of a sidewalk. He informed those attending the workshop that some cities have been able to utilize what is referred to as a "flexible zone". These zones are provided in areas where parking, street vending areas, sidewalk cafes, etc., may be interchanged depending upon the need of the business which fronts a particular locality. Discussion was also held regarding street improvements. Mr. Freedman stated that although street improvements are important, they are secondary to the creation of a viable commercial environment. He reported that there is also a need to call attention to the available parking areas in Campustown. At this time, Mr. Freedman solicited ideas and input from the Mayor and City Council members regarding the Campustown renovation. Council Member Parks indicated that parking for retail customers and ISU students needs to be addressed. Council Member Brown stated that Campustown has lost its identity and that she would like to see a plan implemented which would recreate a vital retail area that invites people in. Council Member Campbell stated that Campustown has a different life by day and by night. She asked Mr. Freedman if the use of lighting and making Welch Avenue into a walking area might add to the ambiance during the nighttime hours and deter certain night life activities at the same time. Mr. Freedman responded that Campustown would be inviting more trouble if Welch Avenue was to be closed off and made into an area where people would linger. The addition of bicycle lanes along Welch Avenue was discussed. Mr. Freedman indicated that in most cities where bicycle lanes do exist, bicyclists have a tendency to travel in the streets anyway. At this time, much discussion was held regarding the parking situation in Campustown. Mr. Freedman stated that he believed there was already enough parking spaces in the area, and parking management is the key. He further stated that the largest parking problems which exist are employees using public parking spaces, private spaces being leased to ISU students, and not enough curb-side parking for convenience uses. Mr. Freedman emphasized that shared parking in privately-owned lots needed to be explored in order to better utilize existing parking spaces. He also suggested that the campus lot on Hayward Avenue could be utilized. Mr. Freedman indicated that it would be a large mistake to spend money towards the purchase of land for more parking, because the remedy to the parking situation is to manage the existing parking spaces more efficiently. More discussion was held regarding a shared parking situation and the existing parking problems in the area. Mr. Freedman emphasized that providing more parking lots will not revitalize Campustown. Ideas from Council members were exchanged which centered around adding more splash to the Welch/Lincoln Way intersection, bringing more shopping diversity to Campustown, recruiting businesses, and providing more public parking directly on Welch Avenue. Questions regarding the magnitude of cost arose. After receiving Mr. Freedman's input regarding cost figures, the Council indicated they were interested in spending in the range of $1 to $2 million in order to get the revitalization project underway. This cost figure would allow for a variety of effective improvements to the area. At this time, several merchants from the Campustown area gave input and ideas regarding the revitalization project. Howard Thiel, 3510 Oakland, stated that the image of Campustown needs to change as well as more parking and a better mix of businesses needs to be provided. Dan Heuertz, People's Bar and Grill, indicated that a sense of community is definitely lacking. He further indicated that the rate of speed of traffic on Lincoln Way is too high. Bicycles seem to be increasingly more popular in Campustown, and provisions for them need to be taken into consideration. Jodie Emrich, Do-Biz Cookies, reported that the businesses in Campustown were very viable in the past. The smaller shops are doing well, but are moving to inside malls, strip malls, etc. She also stated that Lincoln Way's four-lane traffic pace is too fast. Sidewalk vending businesses are affected on Lincoln Way due to the traffic noise and diesel fumes. Larry Dau, Grandma's Jewelry Box, stated that all of the businesses are not dead in the area and that there is a good mix of retail establishments. It was his belief that people from the ISU campus are afraid to cross Lincoln Way due to brief traffic signals and the high congestion of traffic. He suggested that more customer parking is also needed on Lincoln Way as well as on Welch Avenue. Mr. Dau indicated that some of the existing buildings do need improvements as they are somewhat run down. 3 Tom Northrup, Pizza Pit, stated that parking seems to be the largest concern. He emphasized that more people from the community would come to the area if there was more parking available to them. Mr. Northrup further stated that money is not spent on building aesthetics, because leases generally run for approximately three years. There are also many out of town landlords who own properties in Campustown. Hon Pong Fung, Golden Monarch, reiterated that the area's largest problem is the lack of parking spaces. He stated that more short-term parking should be included. He further stated that traffic should be only one-way on Welch Avenue, thereby alleviating some of the parking problems by adding angle parking on one side of the street. Mr. Freedman concurred that angle parking would be a much better solution to the parking situation on Welch. Dorothy Schumer, Travel and Transport, reported that a face lift is definitely needed along with more parking. She stated that many people are not even aware of the existing parking area behind Welch Avenue and the back entrances to businesses from that lot. The Iowa State University parking lot on Hayward Avenue was again discussed along with the possibilities of its future use. Church parking lots were also discussed as areas where shared parking might be utilized. City Manager Schainker stated that he has asked Mr. Freedman to return to Ames with his best proposal for the Campustown revitalization project. He will provide the Council with one recommendation which will show the different elements of cost. Mr. Freedman indicated that the time frame of his return visit would be in approximately six to seven weeks. COMMENTS: There were no comments. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Jill Ripperger, Acting City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor 4